Electric switch.



JOSEPH STANSBURY JONES. OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed September 23, 1915. Serial No. 52.169.

To all whom it may concern Be it'known that 'L'Josnru Srnxscunr domes, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have ini'ented new and us d Improvements in Electric. Switches, of which tile following is a specificati'on.

This. invention relates to electric switches, and while features of the invention may be applicable to switches of many kinds, the invention particularly applicable to the type of swit is known as a snap switch.

Switches of this type embody fixed con tacts and rotary contacts. When the handle of the switch is turned through an angle, this movement releases the rotary member of the switch and the spring of the switch moves the mtary member forward and looks it in a new position, usually the on-nnd-olf positions alternate.

A principalobject of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction for the rotary switch member affording simple means for supporting the contact member. If the switch comprises more than one rotary contact member, my invention aflords simple. means for effectively carrying and insulating the rotary contact members.

A further object of the invention is to construct the rotary switch member in such a way that the body of the some may be readily molded of insulating material, and the parts carried by it are so constructed that the hodymay be molded around them or.1n engagement with them so as t c-hold them rigidly in or on the insulating body.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and improve the construction of. the movable contacts and particularly as to the method of supporting-the same at the binding posts; and my improvements also extend to the construction of the binding posts themselves l Further ob'ects of the invention willappear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists in. the general combination of parts and details hereinafter described, all of-Which contribute .to pro duce an. efliclent electric switch.

A. prei' erre-d embodiment of the invention.

is described in the following specification, while the broad scope otthe invention is pointed out in the iilppended claims.

In the'. drzuving,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a switch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2. is a plan of the switch upon a rcduccd scale.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section througl'i the switch taken about on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. =1 is a bottom plamof the rotary switch member removed from the switch, certain parts'being shown in cross-section. The view includes contiguous parts.

Fig. ,3 is a bottom plan. of a cam plate i'emovcd from the switch.

Fig. 6- isa vertical section through the rotary switch. member, and also indicating the 1nanner in which one of the movable contacts cooperates with the fixed contacts.

Fig; 7 is a perspective of the rotary switch member removed from the switch and showing the. lower end thereof.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the spindle of the switch and showing details 'of the releasing device Which cooperates with the other parts in ef ecting the advancing or rotary movement of the switch.

Fig. 9 is a plan of the central portion of the rotary switch member showing details.

Although I have illustrated and described in the inclosed specification my improvements as applied to a rotary switch, it is understood that many of the features of the invention may be applied to switches gener- "ally, and that" the switch described is set forth merely by wayaofexample.

The snap switch illustrated comprises a case 10 which may he of circular form as shown. said case being provided with a suitable screw cap or cover 11 with a stufling box "12 through which passes the switch spindle 3, said spindle being provided "with a handle" 14, preferably in the form of an, indicating tachcd to the spindle by' screw threads 15,, but these threads are of such a character that the handle screws onto thespindh; in the same direction in which it is rotated-to operate the sivitchg'for example, clockwise or in the direction of thearrow indicated in arrow, see Fig. 2 This handle may be at- This block is preferably provided with a central recess 17 at its under side, and the upperwall of which is provided with a bushin 1 8 whic forms a bearing for the lower on of the spindle 13, the spindle being held against withdrawal by any suitable means such as the split pin. and washer 19. The upper end of the bushing 18 has a thread connection with a cam plate 20, see Fig. 5,

which is instrumental in locking the switch in itsdifl'erent positions. For this purpose the cam plate ispreferably provided with a plurality of recesses or notches 21 in its edge between which the periphery of the plate-is formed with spiral or-cam edges 22. This cam plate is held in a fixed position by means of a small screw 23 or any other suitable means.

Coiiperating with the cam plate there is provided a cam 24, see Fig. 8, said cam being in the form of a plate with a circular opening 25 therein which receives an eccentric 26 which is rigidly mounted on the spindle 13. The cam plate 24hasa short substanti-ally radial arm 27 having a laterally projecting dog 28 which is adapted to engage successively in the notches 21 as the switch is rotated to its successive positions.

switch viewed from the bottom, when the spindle 13 is rotated in the direct-ion indi cated by the arrow in Fig. 4,- the eccentric 26 moves the camarm 27 outwardly so as to release the dog 28 from the notch, and the sprin then drives the cam forwardly around the edge of the cam plate and locks it in the notch which is next in advance. In the switch illustrated, the rotary movement of the cam 24 is imparted to the rotary switch member 29, see Fig. 7, and this is. preferably accomplished through the medi'umof a member or cam rack 30 which is in the form of a plate having twolugs 31 between which the arm 27 lies. From this arrangement evidently when the came 24 rotates forward, it carries with it the cam rack 30.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1', I prefer to form the cam rack 30 with a central open- 'ing whicnreceives the lower end of a bushingor tubular sleeve ably having a circumferential shoulder 33 Which seats on the upper side of the rack.

The-spring 34 is disposed in a helical coil around thesleeve 32 and. its lower end has a longitudinal extension 32 which is received in engaging means such as an bpening 135 formed in the rack, u'pper end of the spring has an extension 36 which may be secured at any point around the periphery ofa collar 37 which is rigidly 5 contacts are also preferably 32, said sleeve prefersee Figs. 6 and 7. The

secured to the spindle and which collar has a plurality of inclined equidistant notches 38in order to receive the extension or shank 36 of the spring. Evidently, this'arrangement enables the tension of the spring to be. nicely adjusted.

I The rotary switch member 29 preferably has a body 39 of insulation which is preferably formed of any suitable composition such as fiber, which can be molded. This enables me to mold. this body around the movable switch member and it also enables me to mold the body in such a way that itholds the plate 30 in place. In the present instance, the switch has two rotary conducw tive parts or contacts 40 and 41 which are disposed indifferent planes transversely to the axis of the spindle. This insulating body 39 then operates to hold the contacts 40 and 41 and the member 30 in a fixed relation 5 to each other, and it also operatesto insulate them. The contact members 40 and 41 preferably operate as bridge contacts to connect two diametrically opposite terminals in the case, and for this purpose they are preferably formedeach with a ring-she ed body '42 and fan-tail arms or; blades 43 w ich pro.-

ject outwardly. When they are molded in theinsulating bodv 39, the-ring bodies of the contacts arecompletel embedded in the insulation 39 and the b ades 45 are the only parts of the movable contacts which are in i sight, and they may project in some such Referring to Fig. 4wh1ch-shows'the manner as illustrated iii Fig 7. '(llhe trio ispose in dirrespect to the 1 ferent angular positions with axis of rotation. I prefer to provide guiding means to assist in placing the spring 34 in position, For this purpose I prefer to bend the extension 32 outwardly slightly and. form the bore 39 of the insulating body 39 (see Fig. 9) with a longitudinal guide groove, which alines with theopeni'n-g 35 and guides the extension 32?.into the opening 35. In one position of the switch, the switch contact. 40 may connect two diametrically opposite contacts 44* and 44", while two'interinediate diametrically opposite contacts 45 and 45" 'are connected by the contact 41;

As one end of the spring 34 is anchored rigidly on the spindle13 at the spring collar 37, it of course tends to rotate the spindle in an opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. The spindle, however,

. is locked against rotation by means of the coiiperate with the blades or wings 43 and also to facilitate the mounting of the fixed contacts in their binding posts 48. These binding posts 48 are preferably four in number and disposed diametrically opposite'to each other. They are held in position by fit) suitable screws 49 )assin ufthrou h the insulatine block '16. In order to reduce the heighto'l the case and to bring". the lower switch ron'tact 40 as near as possible to the insulating block 1.6, I prefer to provide a re does 50 in the upper face of the insulatimr block "which receives the lower end of the body 39 of the rotary switch member and. its contiguous parts.

In order to insure that the member 30 will be securely held in the body 39when it is l'nolded, I prefer to form theplate or member 30 with projections 51 on its edges, see Fig. 6. \Vhen the body 39 is molded it extends on the outer side of these 1'nojections, and, of course, preventsthe plate from being pnlled out of: the insulating body. The bind are meter-ably formed of a rela ing pos tively soft brass and they are preferably provided on their inner sides with deep concave recesses or throats 52, and in tl'iese throats l iorm transverse saw cuts or fiat grooves fit-l: These grooves'or cuts receive the inner ends oi the fixed coi'itact members- 44 which are disposed in pairs as shown. These contacts may be sweated in position or pinned to secure them. The inner ends of these tixe il cout:u.:ts are preferably bifurcated for which 'iurpose they are formed with a central slot 5 1-, which renders the contacts flexiliile The fixed contacts are preferably formed with transverse bows or bends 55 which cause them to yield resiliently when the movii contact win s as come into place between them. The fhruiird edges that-is, the od oi the contact plates which receive tl wings l? are preferably formed with mltwardly bent lips 5t} which facilitate tlui iniidi oi the wiiurs t?) into place. In order to do the leading'dn wires iii-"serarely in in binding posts, I prefer to provide earl: iodine; post with a bindin screw H8 having: a swiveled colhur. 59 at its lower end which collar rec ed in an opening ii ti b ei'ilargrcd or trap 60 which cut through the binding: 131%. "llhis enlarged opening receives th wiveled collar. When the wire rd in put in place under the screw, the swiveled. collar starts on the wire without turning: and the rotation'of the screw 58 clamps it firmly against the wire. When properly clanmei'h the set screw is secured by means of a lock not ill which seats against the 'unpcr end of the post;

Ti lie casa-z it? is preferably provided at diametrically opposite points with bosses Gil to ri'agreivc the conduit-s or pipes carrying the wires one wire being carried toward one contact, for instance, 45, and the other to the crmtact 4h It is understood that the embodiment of the ii'ivontion set forth herein is only one of the many ei'i'ihodiments or forms the invention may take, and I do not wish to be seeurech said body insulating the parts one frotmanother and being molded about the parts to lock them against movement relative to the lgiody and to each other whereby said parts may be held to rotate in unison without the pr sence of metallic n'iembers intersecting the planes of such parts within the body.

2.. In a switch tary contact-carryingr nien'iber adapted to be rotated, said mei'i'lber including a conductive contact part, and a part operative in, the meinbenmovingr o 'ieratioi'i, means cooperating with said last namcdpart to eilect the rotation of said member, saidri'itary member having a biiidy of insulation molded to unite said parts in the unitary structure and to form a loclt therefor to prevent relative movement between the parts and such body, whereby said. parts will be fixedly positioned within the unit without the presence of metallic members intersecting the several. planes of such parts within the body, and fixed contacts cooperating with the conductive contact part. 3. In a rotary snap-switch, in combination, a rotary switch member having av conductive part and haviru another part formed of metal to facilitate the rotation of said rotary switch n'ieniber, means coiipm-ating with said last named part to' clinct the rotation of said rotary switch member said rotary member lniving a body of insulation molded about said conducth 'e part and bolding the same iixcd in the il'is'u-latioi'i, said. other part disposed. at the end of said body having projections molded into said body to retain. the same in said body and having nieans projecting outwardly to enable said body to be rotated, and fixed contacts cooperating with said conductive part. i 4. In a rotary snap-switch, in combination. a rotary switch member having a (onducti've contact part said rotary member having a body of insulation l'l'lOlflGCl. about said. conductive part to hold the same in place, a cam racltalisposed at the end of said body having! projections about which said body is n'iolded and operating to retain said.

rack fixed in said body, a cam guided on and in combination a. uui

release said cam from. said cam-plate, a spring for normally holding said cam locked on said cam-plate, and fixed contacts cooperating with said conductive contact part.

5. A -'switch member having engaging means in one end thereof for engaging one end of a spring, said member further having a bore to receive the spring, with a longitudinal guide groove in alinement with said engaging means,'and a spring received in said bore having an extension adapted to be guided by said guide groove into engagement with said engaging means when the spring is placed in' position. v

6. A rotary switch member having a molded insulating body and a contact. blade carried thereby said insulating body having a bore and having alate molded in said body at the end of sai bore, said plate having an opening therein to receive the end of a spring, said here having a guide groove therein alining with said opening, and a spring to actuate said rotary member mounted in said bore and having an extension adapted to ,be guided by said guide V groove When the spring is placed in the bore 7. In a rotary snap-.svviteh, thecombina tion of a rotary switch 'member, having a" conductive contact part, said rotary: member having a body of insul'ationf moldedabout said conductive part and holding the same;

fixed in the insulation a-"metallic part embedded in the end of saidinsulating body and held fixed by the insulation, the said metallic member having outwardly prajecnlng ineansfor cooperating to'e'fl'ect therlotm tion of said rotary switch member; said body and insulationhavin'g a bore therein,

a spring lying in said bore engagingfsaid metallic member, and means cooperating with said spring-and said metallio-member to effect the rotation of-said rotary member. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit 'nesses'.

. JOSEPHsT NsBUaYJonas.

,Witnesses:

A. DE Mo'r'r, E. B. O. LINDQUIST. 

